Ella Litchfield

The pandemic has made this school year difficult, however, the under appreciated staff has worked twice as hard to guarantee education for students at PV.

The continued diligence of janitorial and cafeteria workers has gone unnoticed amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Challenging times of this school year called for the PV staff to feed, clean and support the education of students without a sign of appreciation or recognition for their work.

This year has been confusing and dangerous for people all over the world, however, no complaints came from returning workers. Important positions such as school staff deserve an acknowledgement for all that they do to benefit their students. 

When schools were approached with safety guidelines and concerns, jobs were given to janitors to restructure the lunch table arrangement and classroom layouts. Due to these corrective measures, everyone  was given the opportunity to return back to school in hybrid and later in-person. 

Schooling was made possible through the work of custodians and their efforts to transition the building into a safe environment. Not only did their efforts promote a safe return to in-person learning but many of the staff did it for those who rely on school for shelter and their next meal.

USA Today reported that “students — most of whom qualify for free or reduced-price school meals — consume up to 58% of their daily nutrients through the national school breakfast and lunch programs.” Statistics show the value of school lunches for children every day. 

Cafeteria staff understood the importance of school food for these students and established a mission to brighten the days of the less fortunate. Sheryl Stein is one worker who appreciates her role and opportunity to see all PV students every day. “I absolutely love working in the cafeteria at the school. There are many reasons why but for me, seeing my daughter every day is top of the list.” 

Stein explained “Also, I love connecting with a variety of other students if even for a few moments. I feel like my interaction with any student could make a difference in their day and that’s what I strive for. I definitely form a connection with many of the students. I look forward to seeing them every day and hope that I do make a positive impact in their lives.” Stein’s dedication to her position is confirmed by her interactions with students.

Everyday attempts to brighten someone’s day can have an everlasting impact on students without support at home. There needs to be a shared appreciation for these staff members from the PV community because they remain some of the few who look out for all students. 

Senior Ani Pradeep shares his thoughts on the importance of the staff and how students can show more appreciation. “During a pandemic it’s not easy spraying [and] wiping down tables after every lunch or cleaning the entire school to make it ready for the next students,” said Pradeep, “These individuals have clearly put their life at risk and all their effort into making sure we are safe which should not go under appreciated.” 

Those forgotten trudge on, in a feat of work founded by our year of COVID-19. With a long-lasting pandemic and few people to depend on, the forgotten jobs have done the most work to guarantee education and safety for all students at PV.